In an interview to Palki Sharma, Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said that China has not ditched Sri Lanka, but Beijing has been "silent" in the last few months. Here is an excerpt from that exclusive conversation.

Gravitas: Lankan Crisis: Wickremesinghe says China has been silent

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Sri Lanka Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said that India helped the island nation way more than China while they were going through a major economic crisis. Wickremesinghe was made prime minister of Sri Lanka amid tremendous inflation and resulting protests. In an exclusive interview with Managing Editor of WION Palki Sharma, the Sri Lanka PM explained that China had a lot of red tape when it came to helping Sri Lanka and that is why they focused more on negotiations with India.

“They (China) helped in some ways, but big arrangements did not come through because we focused on India. I don't think they could get much from China and Japan during that time. It is not a fault of Colombo as we decided to focus on India because India came up with the money. And that's what we wanted. It is the question of who had less red tape,” Wickremesinghe said in the interview.

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"I have been talking to other ministers from India. Will talk to PM (Narendra) Modi. Have been in touch with Finance and Foreign ministers. Have been talking to S. Jaishankar before the crisis also, when we met in Abu Dhabi, we had a long chat where I told him the crisis will come. Will talk to PM Modi and thank him," he added.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Wickremesinghe was quick to point out that the Sri Lankan government does not believe that China ditched them during tough times and made it clear that he will be speaking to China about the donor conference which is aimed towards the “Reconstruction and Development of Sri Lanka”. &nbsp;

WATCH |&nbsp;Exclusive: Ranil Wickremesinghe on WION | What Sri Lanka needs to survive

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“I don't think they (China) have ditched Sri Lanka. Well, I think actually we should have negotiated with them (China) but we did not. I can't understand why we did not. We just made a request.”

“With the crisis in Sri Lanka, they (China) have been silent from few months. I don't know how much the previous government had negotiated earlier. But I intent to start talking with China. And get them to get into the donor conference. Which they have agreed to get into the donor conference and get help that way,” he said while explaining his government’s future stance towards China.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;

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Sri Lanka Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said that India helped the island nation way more than China while they were going through a major economic crisis.

Sri Lanka Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said that India helped the island nation way more than China while they were going through a major economic crisis. Wickremesinghe was made prime minister of Sri Lanka amid tremendous inflation and resulting protests. In an exclusive interview with Managing Editor of WION Palki Sharma, the Sri Lanka PM explained that China had a lot of red tape when it came to helping Sri Lanka and that is why they focused more on negotiations with India. “They (China) helped in some ways, but big arrangements did not come through because we focused on India. I don't think they could get much from China and Japan during that time. It is not a fault of Colombo as we decided to focus on India because India came up with the money. And that's what we wanted. It is the question of who had less red tape,” Wickremesinghe said in the interview. Also read | Ukraine 'will prevail' over Russia with global support, says Zelensky "I have been talking to other ministers from India. Will talk to PM (Narendra) Modi. Have been in touch with Finance and Foreign ministers. Have been talking to S. Jaishankar before the crisis also, when we met in Abu Dhabi, we had a long chat where I told him the crisis will come. Will talk to PM Modi and thank him," he added. Wickremesinghe was quick to point out that the Sri Lankan government does not believe that China ditched them during tough times and made it clear that he will be speaking to China about the donor conference which is aimed towards the “Reconstruction and Development of Sri Lanka”. WATCH | Exclusive: Ranil Wickremesinghe on WION | What Sri Lanka needs to survive “I don't think they (China) have ditched Sri Lanka. Well, I think actually we should have negotiated with them (China) but we did not. I can't understand why we did not. We just made a request.” “With the crisis in Sri Lanka, they (China) have been silent from few months. I don't know how much the previous government had negotiated earlier. But I intent to start talking with China. And get them to get into the donor conference. Which they have agreed to get into the donor conference and get help that way,” he said while explaining his government’s future stance towards China. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Exclusive | India had less red tape than China on helping Sri Lanka, says PM Ranil Wickremesinghe

Ranil Wickremesinghe was appointed Prime Minister of Sri Lanka amidst the worst economic condition since the country’s independence and widespread protests. However, there have been constant allegations of corruption&nbsp;that he was handpicked by the Rajapaksa family as a stopgap solution to the volatile situation. However, in an interview with WION Managing Editor Palki Sharma, Wickremesinghe made it clear that he is not a “CEO” appointed by the Rajapaksas but an “Independent Prime Minister”.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/exclusive-india-had-less-red-tape-than-china-on-helping-sri-lanka-says-pm-ranil-wickremesinghe-487334" hreflang="en">Exclusive | India had less red tape than China on helping us - Sri Lanka PM</a>

“I am not a CEO. I am a Prime Minister. Prime Minister is never a CEO. A Prime Minister in our system is the one who heads the parliament and who leads the government in parliament. I can't be a CEO. I am an independent Prime Minister. No as far as we are concerned, we have to sort it out in the cabinet. Or in parliament.&nbsp; Decision I make, in some issues I consult him (President) in some decisions he make, He consults me. Not in all decisions, that's how the cabinet runs,” the PM said.

The Sri Lanka government has proposed the 21st Amendment to the constitution which can annul unfettered powers given to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa. Wickremesinghe said that that the decision was taken after discussions with Rajapaksa, and it will be discussed next week in the parliament.

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“We had two rounds of discussion with party leaders and agreements. It will be taken up in the next meeting. And there after the 21st Amendment would be presented to the party leaders. We are also looking for the outcome of the court case the SJB has initiated which will give ruling on powers of the President, ministries. So, we have to amend it if the court case is different from our draft.”&nbsp;

“The members asked some more time to go through it.&nbsp; They brought it in last moments that's why.”

WATCH |&nbsp;Exclusive: Ranil Wickremesinghe on WION | What Sri Lanka needs to survive

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/IqdWThCCVCw" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>

Ranil Wickremesinghe was appointed Prime Minister of Sri Lanka amidst the worst economic condition since the country’s independence and widespread protests. However, there have been constant allegations of corruption that he was handpicked by the Rajapaksa family as a stopgap solution to the volatile situation.

Ranil Wickremesinghe was appointed Prime Minister of Sri Lanka amidst the worst economic condition since the country’s independence and widespread protests. However, there have been constant allegations of corruption that he was handpicked by the Rajapaksa family as a stopgap solution to the volatile situation. However, in an interview with WION Managing Editor Palki Sharma, Wickremesinghe made it clear that he is not a “CEO” appointed by the Rajapaksas but an “Independent Prime Minister”. Also read | Exclusive | India had less red tape than China on helping us - Sri Lanka PM “I am not a CEO. I am a Prime Minister. Prime Minister is never a CEO. A Prime Minister in our system is the one who heads the parliament and who leads the government in parliament. I can't be a CEO. I am an independent Prime Minister. No as far as we are concerned, we have to sort it out in the cabinet. Or in parliament. Decision I make, in some issues I consult him (President) in some decisions he make, He consults me. Not in all decisions, that's how the cabinet runs,” the PM said. The Sri Lanka government has proposed the 21st Amendment to the constitution which can annul unfettered powers given to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa. Wickremesinghe said that that the decision was taken after discussions with Rajapaksa, and it will be discussed next week in the parliament. Also read | Ukraine 'will prevail' over Russia with global support, says Zelensky “We had two rounds of discussion with party leaders and agreements. It will be taken up in the next meeting. And there after the 21st Amendment would be presented to the party leaders. We are also looking for the outcome of the court case the SJB has initiated which will give ruling on powers of the President, ministries. So, we have to amend it if the court case is different from our draft.” “The members asked some more time to go through it. They brought it in last moments that's why.” WATCH | Exclusive: Ranil Wickremesinghe on WION | What Sri Lanka needs to survive

Exclusive | I am not a CEO, I am a prime minister, says Ranil Wickremesinghe

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